The EM Drive is a proposed propulsion system that uses microwaves to generate thrust without the need for any propellant. It was first developed by British inventor Roger Shawyer in the early 2000s.
The EM Drive works by bouncing microwaves back and forth inside a closed, tapered cone. Due to the asymmetrical shape of the cone, the microwaves experience a net force in one direction, producing thrust.
The EM Drive has been met with skepticism by the scientific community due to the lack of a clear explanation for how it produces thrust. Many scientists believe that it violates the law of conservation of momentum, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Coupled photons are believed to play a crucial role in the EM Drive by creating a difference in the momentum of the photons inside the cone. This difference in momentum is what produces the net force and generates thrust.
There have been several tests of the EM Drive, with some claiming to have observed thrust, while others have not. However, none of these tests have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and many scientists remain skeptical of the results. Further research and testing are needed to determine the validity of the EM Drive's claims.